His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni is the son of His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, former King of Cambodia and of Her Majesty Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk of Cambodia.
King Sihamoni's selection was endorsed by Prime Minister Hun Sen and National Assembly Speaker Prince Norodom Ranariddh (the new king's brother), both members of the throne council.
He was crowned in Phnom Penh on October 29. Born on Thursday 14 May 1953, in Phnom Penh, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni is the son of His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia and of Her Majesty Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk of Cambodia. Sihamoni remains a bachelor and has no children, which means he does not have a direct successor if one were to be required.
However, this should not be a problem as the King in Cambodia is selected by the throne council.
Norodom Sihamoni speaks Khmer, French, Czech, English and Russian. He is the first Czech speaking monarch after Ferdinand I of Austria.
Education Background
1959-1962: Primary schooling at the Norodom school and then at the Descartes high school in Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
1962-1967: Primary and Secondary schooling at Prague's high school (Czechoslovakia)
1967-1971: Dance, music and theatre courses at the National Conservatory of Prague
1970: High school certificate -Prague (with "very good" marks)
1971: First prize course of classical dance of the National Conservatory of Prague
1971-1975: Higher dance, music and theatre courses, Academy of Musical Art of Prague
1975: Graduated from the Academy of Musical Art of Prague
1975: Author of a thesis on the conception and administration of artistic schools in Cambodia